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PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC - MARCH 25: Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin of Germany compete in the Pairs Short Program during the ISU World Figure Skating Championships at O2 Arena on March 25, 2026 in Prague, Czech Republic. (Photo by Joosep Martinson - International Skating Union/International Skating Union via Getty Images)
International Skating Union via Getty Images
Germany’s Minerva Hase and Nikita Volodin won the Pairs short program competition on Wednesday at the 2026 ISU World Figure Skating Championships.
In a repeat of the short program standings from the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics, the Germans ranked first, followed by Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava (Georgia), and Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud of Canada.
With the 2026 Olympic Champions withdrawing from competition, the Georgian and German pairs entered Prague as the heavy favorites, and head into Thursday’s free skate just short of a dead-heat.
Considered underdogs for both the 2026 Olympics and this year’s world championships, the Canadian duo powered to podium contention in Prague.
Three American Pairs skated in Wednesday’s short program, finishing in sixth, seventh, and eleventh overall. All three successfully qualified to compete in Thursday’s free skate.
2026 Olympians Emily Chan and Spencer Howe delivered in Milan-Cortina, outperforming higher-ranked American pairs to lead the U.S. contingent. The duo accomplished the same here, finishing sixth after the short program.
U.S. National Champions Elisa Efimova and Mitrofanov were a question mark in Prague, as the pair was left off the U.S. Olympic team due to Efimova’s unresolved citizenship issues. The pair struggled on Wednesday, falling to seventh.
In their world championship short program debut, Americans Katie McBeath and Daniil Parkman finished eleventh.
Pairs Short Program Results (Top 10)
- Minerva Hase & Nikita Volodin (Germany): 79.78
- Anastasiia Metelkina & Luka Berulava (Georgia): 79.45
- Lia Pereira & Trennt Michaud (Canada): 75.52
- Maria Pavlova & Alexei Sviatchenko (Hungary): 69.92
- Yuna Nagaoka & Sumitada Moriguchi (Japan): 69.55
- Emily Chan & Spencer Akira Howe (United States): 69.02
- Alisa Efimova & Misha Mitrofanov (United States): 67.29
- Karina Akopova & Nikita Rakhmanin (Armenia): 67.12
- Anastasia Vaipan-Law & Luke Digby (Great Britain): 66.34
- Annika Hocke & Robert Kunkel (Germany): 66.35
In a grueling competition spanning hours, the crowd witnessed a tense battle for the podium unfold in the final groups.
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The Pairs Skating Play-by-Play
Entering the final two groups, Americans Emily Chan and Spencer Akira Howe took to the ice. Chan and Howe exceeded expectations in Milan-Cortina, finishing seventh, the highest for any American team.
With a new stage and a new field, the former U.S. silver medalists looked to build on their Olympic successes. Though Chan doubled their planned triple synchronized jumps, the duo skated cleanly once more on the international stage, securing a top-ten ranking.
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Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud from Canada perform during the pairs short program at the Figure Skating World Championships in Prague, Czech Republic, Wednesday, March 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved
Just a month after recording a personal best in Milan-Cortina, Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud of Canada brought the Czech crowd to its feet, delivering the performance of their career for their second personal best in 2026.
With a massive 75.52, the duo claimed a sizable lead over the field. To their surprise, their lead proved formidable – even against the final group.
Elisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov, the U.S. national champions, were considered dark-horse contenders for a medal in Prague. However, the duo struggled with their key elements on Wednesday, earning a disappointing 67.29.
Next up, the Olympic medalists. With Japan’s Riku Muira and Ryuichi Kihara out of the competition, the Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava (Georgia) duo entered as the favorites – and they performed accordingly.
The Olympic silver medalists skated impeccably, nailing their side-by-side triple Salchows with ease and entertaining the audience with a stirring Flamenco-themed skate. They set a personal-best 79.45 and earned first place.
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PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC - MARCH 25: Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava of Georgia compete in the Pairs Short Program during the ISU World Figure Skating Championships at O2 Arena on March 25, 2026 in Prague, Czech Republic. (Photo by Joosep Martinson - International Skating Union/International Skating Union via Getty Images)
International Skating Union via Getty Images
However, their lead was short-lived. Their German rivals, Olympic bronze medalists Minerva Hase and Nikita Volodin, would skate next.
Hase and Volodin have a season high of 80.01, placing the top spot within reach. With technical excellence and dramatic flair, the pair tangoed to one of the loudest crowd receptions of the competition.
The judges echoed the audience’s sentiments, awarding the pair the highest total of the day, 79.78. With the score, the duo narrowly edged the Georgians for a lead heading into Thursday’s Free Skate.
How To Watch The Pairs Free Skate
There will be little rest for the Pairs teams – or for passionate figure skating fans. The Free Skate begins in under 24 hours on Thursday, March 26, and will be streamed live on Peacock at 1:15 p.m. ET.
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